Moravian Women Top Widener, End 4-game Loss Streak

January 25, 1995|by JOHN JAY FOX, The Morning Call

There were smiles all around last night after Moravian whacked Widener 77-44 in Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth League play.

In this up-and-down season, and after snapping a four-game losing streak, eighth-year Lady Greyhounds head coach Mary Beth Spirk took time to smile after her beleaguered contingent recorded its second most lopsided victory of the year.

"It was a much-needed win. It was nice to laugh. We haven't been able to laugh too much this season," she said of a 7-7, 4-3 league slate. "It was nice to ask the assistant coaches who we could put in next (after taking control from the outset versus the Pioneers).

On Saturday, the Lady 'Hounds lost their first league game in Johnston Hall since Feb. 20, 1988 -- a span of 34 games. That night marked the latest point in a season that Moravian had been under .500 since the 1979-80 team finished 4-13.

The four-game skid was the longest of Spirks' incredible 176-44 career with the Lady 'Hounds.

At home, the Moravian women lost just four games from 1988 through 1993. In their last 10, there's been the same number of losses. After dropping the ECAC final to Washington & Jefferson at Johnston Hall to close 1993-94, the Lady 'Hounds are just 3-2.

"The kids needed this win for all their hard work. If we don't make a move now, it could never happen," Spirk said of being tied with Lebanon Valley for fourth in the Commonwealth circuit.

"We have to build on this. We had to start somewhere."

The Lady Greyhounds blinked at an early three-point deficit as Michelle Wagner buried a 3-point shot off the opening tip, but then Moravian never looked back.

Karen Mattes, late of Bethlehem Catholic, started a 3-point shower for a 4-3 lead and Sue Zimmerman lit it up for a 9-5 home edge.

Mattes went baseline-to-baseline and Zimmerman mixed it up with an effort off the plexiglas to push the Lady 'Hounds to a 13-5 cushion.

Zimmerman and Tuesdee Sneddon found only nylon from beyond the arch as the Blue and Grey scored 12 of its first 19 points from beyond 20 feet.

Making few mistakes and keeping Widener scoreless from 15:01 to 11:44, the Lady 'Hounds pulled away to lead by 16 halfway through the first half.

Nicole Farina of Easton worked the paint and Pen Argyl's Michelle Bickleman got a roller to fall, making it 40-17.

With Moravian having already sounded retreat, Robin North completed a three-point play at the end of the period.

"We cannot take anyone for granted. I'm happy with the way that we played in the first half. It's nice to play a lot (the entire squad of 16) kids. It was nice to be able to relax," Spirk said.

Zimmerman (22 points) was tops in the first 20 minutes with 13 points as Farina (11) added seven and Sneddon six.

Moravian shot a awesome 71.4 percent from 3-point territory racking up five of seven.

Mattes, meanwhile, dished out six assists.

Muhlenberg 79, Bryn Mawr 37--Victories may come sweeter, but Muhlenberg's home court cooking of Bryn Mawr was topped with one record being broken and another nearly shattered in a Centennial Conference contest last night.

Muhlenberg senior guard Stephane Cordazel, who nailed three of four 3-pointers, hit a trey with 16:17 left in the second half boosted the Mules' (5-9, 2-6 in the conference) lead to 59-21, and enabled Cordazel to set a new team record for 3-pointers with 57, surpassing the previous mark of 56, set by Lonnie Rutman in 1989-91.

Muhlenberg's Lori Milot had five steals, raising her career total to 47. She's one steal shy of tying the conference record, held by Ursinus' Chris Ferrier.

Cordazel and Sarah Bedi each scored 15 points for the Mules.

Bryn Mawr (0-12) played the last 3:45 with four players after Erika Finanger fouled out.